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2 Corinthians 3

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2 Corinthians 3 Overview

Paul says the Corinthians themselves are his letter of commendation, written by the Spirit on human hearts. He contrasts the ministry of the letter that kills with the Spirit who gives life, compares fading Mosaic glory with the greater glory of the new covenant, and describes believers beholding the Lord’s glory with unveiled face.

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Before you read 2 Corinthians 3

Coming from

Paul explains why he wrote with tears rather than making another painful visit. A disciplined offender who has been sufficiently punished should now be forgiven, comforted, and confirmed in love. Paul then describes gospel ministry as a triumphal savor of Christ, life to some and death to others.

In this chapter

Leads into

Paul refuses dishonest handling of God’s word and preaches Christ Jesus the Lord rather than himself. The gospel can be veiled to the lost by satanic blindness, yet God shines light into hearts. Ministers carry this treasure in weak earthen vessels and endure affliction while looking beyond temporary suffering to eternal unseen realities.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The ‘letter killeth’ does not mean Scripture is bad; Paul is contrasting the Mosaic covenant’s condemning function with the life-giving ministry of the Spirit in the new covenant.

The veil imagery draws from Moses but is applied to hardened reading apart from turning to the Lord.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

God makes ministers sufficient for new-covenant service

Competence is from God, not self-commendation.

The law exposes condemnation while the Spirit gives life

The covenants differ in glory and function.

Transformation comes from beholding the Lord

Believers are changed from glory to glory by the Spirit.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Exodus 34:29–35

Moses’ veiled face supplies the controlling Old Testament background.

Jeremiah 31:31–34

The promised new covenant provides the larger covenant framework.

Hebrews 8:6–13

Hebrews explicitly contrasts the old and new covenants and quotes Jeremiah.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use ‘letter killeth’ to dismiss careful Bible reading

Paul is discussing covenant ministry, not condemning written revelation.

Do not confuse new-covenant life with law-keeping as a means of justification

The contrast emphasizes the Spirit’s life-giving work.

Do not make transformation the condition for receiving eternal life

It is the believer’s ongoing experience after turning to the Lord.

Read 2 Corinthians 3 watching for…

The letter written on hearts.

The repeated word glory.

What fades and what remains.

The veil and turning to the Lord.

The Spirit’s role in transformation.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-6The Corinthians are Paul’s letter, written by the Spirit, and God makes ministers able for the new testament 7-11The ministry engraved in stone had glory, but the ministry of the Spirit has greater and lasting glory 12-18In Christ the veil is removed, and believers are changed into the Lord’s image by the Spirit

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

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2 Corinthians 3:1

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